I confess, I am not always eco-friendly. I put my empty water bottles into a paper bag by the door with the hopes that Jon's sister will take it and recycle it once a month. But I don't separate my trash into two bins (I don't have room for two bins). I don't compost. We use plastic silverware and (gasp!) don't re-use it. We may also use paper plates sometimes.

What I can really get behind is reusing and upcycling; I keep jelly jars and use them as vases or to hold buttons/thread. I always reuse shipping envelopes and I keep all my wasted computer-printed paper (like the sheet with one line on it) to reuse as scrap paper. I've just started thinking about jewelry I can make using materials I have around the house (more to come on that in the future). That's why BTC Elements is such a cool company. They use small, domestic artists who use thrifted/vintage finds to make amazing upcycled pieces.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

I began my lifestyle rehaul 5 weeks ago and I have lost 24 lbs! I can fit into the jeans in the pile in the back of the closet - the ones that either "used to" fit or the ones that I bought thinking they "might fit one day." Well, they do! I am noticing changes in my body; my arms, my legs, my tummy, it's all different! I've been slacking on the gym lately (school and swapping and crafting and blogging may have taken over my life), but I've still been doing 40 push-ups every morning and walking the dogs whenever I can. I am stronger, I'm sleeping better, I haven't had a headache in weeks (knock on wood), and I feel lighter, happier, healthier.

This is also a little scary to say, because I haven't really said it to anyone, much less myself, but that is a quarter of my goal. A few weeks ago, the scary part of that statement was the total number to go. Now, the scary part is that it's actually happening. For better or worse, being overweight, like being short or wearing glasses, becomes part of who you are and how you think of yourself. So, like with any big change, I feel the need to start re-evaluating those boxes I've put myself in. For example, I've already moved myself out of the "can't snowboard" box (read about it here). I have a feeling the other boxes may not be so easy to get out of, but I'll figure it out. ;)

I've also found a lot of foods that I LOVE, that I would probably never have tried before. Like spaghetti squash, roasted asparagus, snap-peas, and kale. But spaghetti squash is my favorite, by far. You can mix it with real spaghetti and get the feeling you're eating a ton of food, while drastically cutting back the carb intake. What I really like to do is just to eat it, with homemade spaghetti sauce (made by my sister). It tastes like spaghetti people! It feels like it, too! But it doesn't attach itself to your thighs the way that spaghetti does. :)

Here is a recipe I've been itching to try (maybe tonight is the night)!

Cooking spaghetti squash in your microwave is super-quick, but roasting it isn’t much more work — I’ve made it both ways and it works equally well. This works great as a side, but I tried something different this time and bulked it up with canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed. We had it with couscous but if I had thought of it sooner, it would also be great with some sautéed greens.

To cook the squash in a microwave: Pierce squash (about an inch deep) all over with a small sharp knife to prevent bursting. Cook in an 800-watt microwave oven on high power (100 percent) for 6 to 7 minutes. Turn squash over and microwave until squash feels slightly soft when pressed, 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool squash for 5 minutes.

To roast the squash, two methods: If you’d like to roast the squash whole, pierce it all over with a small sharp knife to prevent bursting and bake it in a 375°F oven for one hour. If you are good with a big, sharp kinfe, you can save some time by cutting the squash in half lengthwise, scooping out the seeds and roasting the halves face-down in an oiled baking pan for about 40 minutes in a 375°F oven.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until it is barely golden. Stir in spices and salt and remove from heat.

If you have microwaved or roasted your squash whole, carefully halve it lengthwise (it will give off a lot of steam) and remove the seeds.

Carefully halve squash lengthwise (it will give off steam) and remove and discard seeds. Working over a bowl, scrape squash flesh with a fork, loosening and separating strands as you remove it from skin. Toss with the spiced butter and cilantro.

If you haven't tried spaghetti squash, I DARE you to try it this week. And then tell me all about it :)
If you have tried, what's your favorite way to prepare it?

Ask my mother, I've always had a strange fascination with fake fruit. As a kid, I was drawn to the glitter-encrusted pears in Michaels, the papier-mache apples at school. When I got a discount at Pottery Barn, I stocked up on wine bottle charms shaped like little grape bunches. I try not to stock up on kitschy fruit-shaped items these days (if only for lack of space), but I'm a sucker for fruit-themed artwork. Enter Sharon Schock, the artist behind the etsy shop of the same name who creates gorgeous oil and watercolor paintings of.. fruit! And occasionally landscapes and seascapes, but the fruit is my personal favorite. Sharon has answered my questions and offered 4 pieces of her beautiful work for a giveaway!

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I started oil painting when I was 5. My grandma was very supportive of my interest and helped pay for my afterschool art classes throughout my childhood. I graduated from college in 2006 with a B.A. in Fine Arts, but I can’t say I grew much as an artist during those years. It wasn’t until I moved to Colorado in 2008 and was without roommates for the first time that I really started applying myself. I finally had space to set up a studio and could paint without feeling guilty about the fumes I was making everyone breathe! I found that daily painting (finishing a new small painting each day) really fit my style and chosen subject matter.

Mostly oils, I just love how they work and how easily they glide on the surface. I occasionally make ink and watercolor drawings, which are also really fun. They’re easily transportable for times I can’t be in my studio. But oils have always been my favorite. Sometimes I get frustrated with how long they take to dry, and I’ll try to convince myself that acrylics are just as good.. but it never works.

Two things, the first one was that my studio was getting too full. I was painting every day almost and then the paintings would just sit there, I didn’t know what I could do with them. The second was that I had never tried selling my work before, I guess I was scared to try. Etsy seemed like the perfect way to start, and if it didn’t work then it wasn’t a huge investment wasted. I’m so glad I did, it’s been much more successful than I thought it would be.

I try to finish a new painting every day, sometimes I don’t make it, but that’s my goal. And that means I’m constantly looking for inspiration. I usually look at things that are around me everyday, and try to pretend I’m seeing them for the first time, I try to see what’s particularly beautiful about a scene, like a perfect blue shadow or an interesting reflected light, and then I try to think how I can portray that on a canvas.

Well I know that you’re “supposed” to paint to classical music… but I get kind of bored with that, I also completely lose track of time and suddenly it’s 4 hours later, I have paint all over my face, and have forgotten to pick up my sister at the airport. Most of the time I listen to audiobooks or radio dramas.

I really enjoy Edward B Gordon’s daily painting blog, everyday he manages to paint a masterpiece, I just love them. Michael Naples also has some really great stuff . His paintings are playful and well executed.

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends 11:59 pacific standard time Wednesday, March 3, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on the morning of Thursday, March 4, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. Sharon Schock will ship anywhere in the world!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Shopping on etsy is fun. We all agree on that, right? But shopping on etsy usually involves shipping costs - which can take away some of the fun. So, I've gathered my favorite finds that have free shipping - but act fast, because some are temporary deals! :)